Centrifugal honey-extractor



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. W. METGALF.

GENTRIFUGAL HONEY EXTRACT-OR.

No. 486,728. Patented Nov. 22,1892.-

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WITNESSES.

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Rms PETERS co, Pnmoumo, WASHINGTON. n. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

c. w. METOALP. GENTRIFUGAL HONEY BXTRAGTOR.

No. 486,728. Patented NOV. 22, 1892.

/N VENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEYS Q vm: "cams PEIERS co wnoro-umouWASHINGTON, u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. METCALF, OF SANTA PAULA, CALIFORNIA.

CENTRIFUGAL HONEY-EXTRACTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,728, dated November22, 1892.

Application filed April 7, 1892- Serial No. 428,111. (No model-l To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. METoALF, of Santa Paula, in the county ofVentura and btate of California, have invented a new and ImprovedCentrifugal Honey-Extractor, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

The invention relates to centrifugal honeyextractors, such as shown anddescribed in the application for Letters Patent of the United States,Serial No. 390,423, filed by me April 25, 1891, and allowed October 16,1891.

The object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedcentrifugal honey-extractor which is very simple and durable inconstruction, very effective in operation, and arranged to give a rapidmotion to the baskets without creating much noise; also, permitting ofconvenient and quick removal of the baskets for refilling the same withthe combs and removing the empty ones.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations ofthe same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one ofthe baskets. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the mechanism for imparting motionto the basket-frame with parts in section. Fig. 5 is an enlargedsectional side elevation of part of the basket-frame and the main shaft.Fig. 6 is a side elevation with parts in section of one of the uppercorners of the basket-frame. Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view of the sameon the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevation of oneof the lower corners of the basket-frame; and Fig. 9 is a plan view ofthe segmental gear-wheel, showing a modified form of chain connection.

The improved centrifugal honey-extractor isprovidedwithavesselAsimilarin construction to the one shown anddescribed in the application above mentioned. In the center of theconical bottom B of this vesselA is arranged a bearing or step C, inwhich is journaled a shaftE, fastened in the lower hub F of thebasket-frame F,supportingthe baskets G,adapted to receive the combs. Thebasket-frame F is provided with a central shaft F connecting the lowerhub F with the upper hub F containing in its top a vertically-arrangedbearing H,in which is loosely journaled the lower end of the main shaftH, mounted to turn in suitable bearings arranged on the cross-piece A,attached to the upper end of the vessel A.

From the lower hub F of the basket-frame F extends radially a series ofspokes or arms F carrying at their outer ends bearings F supporting thevertical shafts F mounted to turn at their upper ends in bearings Fsupported on the spokes or arms F projecting radially from the hub F Theseveral upper bearings F are connected with each other by braces orlinks F engaging suitable eyes formed on the said bearings F On each ofthe shafts F is supported a basket or combholder G, provided with thesides G, each being formed atits lower edge with a groove G terminatingin an enlarged groove G adapted to engage the horizontallyextendin g rod1 of the support I, projecting from the corresponding shaft F Thesupport I is preferably U- shaped, the upright or middle part I servingto limit the swinging motion of the basket or holder G by engagingalternately the projecting ends of the rods 1}" and G connecting theupper ends of the sides G with each other. The front and rear of eachbasket or holder is formed of wire-netting and the baskets or holdersare slightly tapering from the bottom upward and outward, as illustratedin the drawings, with especial reference to Fig. 3. By constructing thesides G with the grooves G and G the baskets can be conveniently removedand replaced after inserting new combs and taking out the empty ones.

In order to imparta forward and backward turning motion to thebasket-frame Faud its baskets or holders, the following device isprovided: On the shaft His secured a sprocketwheel I1 over which passesa sprocket-chain H also passing over a sprocket-wheel H journaled on astud H projecting from the cross-piece A, above mentioned. On the upperface of this sprocket-wheel H is secureda handle H for convenientlyturning the said sprocket-wheel, so as to impart, by means of thesprocket-chain H and the sprocket-wheel H a rotary motion to the shaftII. On the shaft H, directly above the bearings H, is secured a pinionJ, in mesh with a gear-wheel J, carrying on its shaft a pinion J in meshwith a segmental gear-wheel K, fastened to a shaft K, supported insuitable brackets projecting from the basket-frame. The end teeth of thegear-wheel K are blank to lock pinion J as hereinafter more fullydescribed. On this shaft K is secured a small sprocket-wheel K overwhich passes a sprocket-chain L. also passing over sprocket-wheels L,secured on the upper ends of the shafts F of the basket frame F, aspreviously mentioned. The wheel K can be dispensed with; but in thiscase the chain is attached to the pins held on the top of the segmentalgear-wheel K, as shown in Fig. 9. Now when the segmental gear-wheel Klooks with one of its blank end teeth the pinion J to prevent the latterfrom rotating in a forward direction and the shaft II is then turned inthis direction, then the basket-frame F revolves and the honey is thrownout of one side of the combs. When the operator desires to reverse thebaskets to extract the honey from the other side of the combs, then theoperator holds on to the handle H whereby the frame F still continues inits forward movement; but the now-stationary pinion J causes thegear-wheel J to rotate, and the pinion J of the latter imparts a rotarymotion to the segmental gear-wheel K, so that its shaft K is rotated ina backward direction.

The rotary motion of the shaft K is transmitted by the sprocket-wheel Kto the chain L, and the latter, by engaging'the sprocketwheels L, turnsthe shafts F which reverses the position of the baskets G. hen thesegmental gear-wheel K is about to run in with the other blank tooth onwheel K, then the outermost end of its rim strikes a lug N or Nprojecting upward from the springs N or N, respectively fastened to thebrackets supportingthe shaft K. The segmental gearwheel thus strikingthe springs eases the motion of the frame F, takes up all jar andpermits the operator to now again turn the frame in an oppositedirection to extract the honey from the other side of the combs. It isunderstood that the end blank cog or tooth on the segmental gear-wheel Klocks the pinion J and consequently the frame F, to the shaft I'I, sothat on turning the latter by actuating the handle II the frame isturned. IVhen the operator stops turning the handle ll and holds thesame still, then the above-described operation is repeated-that is,motion is given to the segmental gear-wheel K by the pinion J and thebaskets G are again reversed by the action of chain L on sprocket-wheelsL, secured to the shafts F of the basket-frame. It is understood thatwhenever the segmental gear-wheel on its return motion strikes one ofthe lugs N or N the motion of the basketframe F is interrupted and theaction of the spring prevents jar of the frame.

In order to take up the slack in the sprocketchain L, the latter isprovided with adjustable links L of the usual construction. In order tobrake the basket-frame F, a brakewheel 0 is provided, supported 'onsuitable brackets attached to the arms F The rim of this brake-wheel Ois adapted to be engaged by the forked end I of a lever P, fulcrumed tothe under side of the cross-piece A and under the control of theoperator, so that when it is desired to check the speed of thebasket-frame F a slight pressure on the lever P will brake the wheel 0,and consequently retard the movement of the basketframe. The rod I ofeach basket-support I is adapted to be engaged by ahook Q on the end ofa rod Q, supported onand projecting from the hub F of the basket-frameF. The several hooks Q limit the return or reversing movement of thebaskets, and are of the same construction as the ones shown anddescribed in the Letters Patent above referred to.

The operation is as follows: When the several comb-holders G are in theposition illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and are filled with combs androtary motion is given to the frame F in the manner above described,then the centrifugal force of the frame causes the honey in the outerhalf of the combs to be ejected through the outer face of the holder,the honey thus ejected passing against the inner wall of the vessel A toflow down the same and be discharged through the usual outlet. Thistakes place during the forward turning of the frame F, and when thebaskets are quickly reversed, as above described, then the baskets orholders G swing inward, turning on the rod I as their fulcrum. By thisreversing movement the comb-holders change their position, so that theformer inner face is now the outer face, and consequently the remainderof the honey in the combs is now ejected on the movement of the frame Fin an opposite direction. When the honey has been extracted, the holdersor baskets G can be readily removed from the support I by disengagingthe sides G from the lower bar I in the grooves G and G When the holdershave been refilled, they can be readily inserted on the supports I andthe above-described operation is then repeated.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In a centrifn gal honeyextractor, thecombination,with a segmental gear-wheel for imparting movement to theframe, of springs formed at their free ends with lugs adapted to engagethe said segmental wheel, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a centrifugal honeyextractor, the combination, with abasket-support made approximately U shape, of a basket or comb holderhaving its front and rear made of wirenetting and its sides providedwith grooves near their lower ends, the said grooves engaging a bar ofthe said support and forming the fulcrum for the holder and facilitatingthe removal of the comb-holder from the support, substantially as shownand described.

3. In a centrifugal honey-extractor, the combination, with avertically-arranged shaft and a U-shaped support held thereon, of abasket or holder having its front and rear formed of wire-netting andarranged tapering from the bottom upward and outward, sides formed attheir base With grooves adapted to engage the bottom bar of the saidsupport, and projecting bars adapted to engage alternately the verticalbar of the said support to limit the swinging motion of the holders orbaskets, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a centrifugal honeyextractor, the combination, with a framemounted to turn and holders or baskets supported on shafts of the saidframe and mounted to swing, of a main driving-shaft mounted to rotate, aseries of gear-wheels connected with the said shaft, and a segmentalgear-wheel in mesh with a pinion of the said series of gear-wheels andconnected by a sprocket-chain with sprocketwheels on the shafts of thesaid frame, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a centrifugal honeyextractor, the co1nbination,with a frame andbaskets or holders supported thereon, of a sprocket-chain eugagingsprocket-wheels held on shafts of the said frame, asegmental gear-wheelconnected with the said sprocket-chain, and springs held on the frameand formed with lugs adapted to be engaged by the said segmentalgearwheel to limit the motion of the latter in one direction to ease thestopping of the frame by the reaction of the said springs, substantiallyas shown and described.

6. In a centrifugal honeyextractor, the combination, with a framemounted to turn and holders or baskets supported on the said frame andmounted to swing, of a main driving-shaft mounted to rotate, a series ofgear wheels connected with the said shaft, a segmental gear wheel inmesh with a pinion of the said series of gear-wheels and connected by asprocket-chain with the said frame, and a brake mechanism, substantiallyas described, and connected with the said frame, as set forth.

CHARLES W. METCALF.

Witnesses:

J. M. ERDMAN, CASPER TAYLOR.

